Boiler cleaner



June 15 1926.

- H. BILLINGHAM BOILER CLEANER Filed Oct. 30,. 1924 Vea @ktm/nudo n all Patented June 15, 1926,

UNITED STATES HENRY IBILLINGI-IAM, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BOILER CLEANER.

Application filed Gctoher 30, 1924,-- Serial No. 746,841.

My invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive and eliicient device for feeding a cleaning liquid to a boiler for loosening scale therein, the device being so constructed that by the injection of water or some liquid of relatively high specific gravity, the cleaning liquid of comparatively low specific gravity may be discharged from a tank in which it has been placed.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the use of the invention for cleaning the tubes of a vertical, water tube boiler.

Figure 2 isa Side elevation, partly broken away and illustrating the device in use for cleaning a horizontal, lire tube boiler.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the liquid-containing tank.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a tank which may be of any desired size, shape and material. This tank is provided in its top with a filling plug or the like 2, by means of which a quantity of cleaning liquid may be admitted, and at its exterior, the tank is preferably provided with a filling gauge 3. In the construction shown, the upper end of the tank 1 is provided with a thickened portion i which is preferably located within the tank, in the angle between its top and its vertical side wall, this thickened portion being provided with a port 5 which may be of the L-shape shown, with its upper end opening through the top of the tank and its lower end opening through the side wall thereof. I have shown a short pipe` 6 connected with the upper end of the port 5 and provided with a Valve 7, while the upper end of a sight-feed tube 8 is connected with the lower end of said port. Disposed within the tank, is a discharge pipe 9 having an open upper end 10 disposed immediately under the top of said tank, whilethe lower end of said pipe is suitably connected with the lower end of the sight-feed tube 8. A pipe line 11 for water or other liquid under pressure, opens into the lower end of the tank 1 and is provided with an appropriate control valve 12 (Fig. 1). This pipe line is also by preference provided with a valved extension 14 which may be used to drain the tank when desired.

Leading from the valved pipe 6 in Fig. 2, I have shown a hose 15 which is connected with a tube 16 having a suitable spray nozzle 17 and a cut-0E valve 18. This tube may be inserted into a manhole or the like in a boiler, for instance, a horizontal, re tube boiler, as shown in Fig. 2, and when water under pressure is admitted to the lower portion of the tank 1, it raises the cleaning liquid and discharges it through the pipe 9, sight-feed tube 8, port 5, etc., so that the liquid may be sprayed against the inner side of the boiler wall and upon the outer sides of the tubes, to loosen the scale thereon. The manner in which the cleaning liquid is being discharged may be viewed at the tube 8 and when clear water appears in this tube, it is known that the liquid has been entirely discharged.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the tank 1 is provided with a second outlet pipe 19 which passes directly through its top and is provided with a cut-oif valve 20'. When cleaning a vertical water tube boiler, a pipe line 21 may well be connected with the valve 20 as shown in Fig. 1 and the hose 15 may be connected with said pipe line, so that the tube 16 maybe employed for spraying the cleaning solution onto the inner sides of the water tubes, this being of course done only when the boiler is drained. When cleaning tubes of this character, the tube 16 may well be provided with a differently U shaped spray nozzle 17a. Obviously, when the pipe 19 is used to discharge the cleaning liquid, the valve 7l of the pipe 6 is closed, and vice versa.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a simplel and inexpensive, yet a very desirable apparatus has been provided for the purpose intended, and as excellent results are obtainable from the general construction disclosed, such construct-ion is preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, modifications may, of course, be made.

` l claim:

A boiler cleaner comprising a tank intended to containv a cleaning liquid of relatively low specific gravity, the upper end of said tank having a thickened portion formed with a substantially L-shaped port which opens at its ends to the exterior of the upper end vand Side of the tank, n discharge pipe Within the tank having an open Upper end in the upper 1portion of said tank and having its lower end terminating :1djacent one side of the tank, e sight-feed tube at the exterior el? one side olf the tank having its upper end connected to tlie`liorizontal branch of Seid port and ite lower end Connected to the lower end oi" Said discharge pipe, a discharge line connected to the vertical branch of said port, and an inlet into the lower portion o. the tank adapted to admit a liquid ot relatively liigli Specific gravity under pressure, whereby to force the cleaning` liquid Yfrom the tank.

n testimony whereoE have hereunto al'- lixed lny signa-ture.

HENRY BILLINGHABI. 

